The makers of Mercedes (DaimlerChrysler) are bringing a whole new breed of tiny cars to America in early 2008. A branch of the carmaker - called Smart USA - will distribute the Smartfortwo, a 5-foot-wide, 8.8-foot-long two-seater already popular in Europe (in a diesel version). The itty-bitty vehicle will sell for about $12,000 to $17,000. They are targeted for urban drivers, for whom parking is a premium. A story in Business Week says Roger Penske’s United Auto Group will be the distributors, but the Smart USA website doesn’t say where the cars will be sold. You can make a reservation for one online, however. The magazine says Smart has already taken in 20,000 orders but predictions are that demand will skyrocket. The car (with 71 horsepower, a 3-cylinder engine that can go up to 90 mph) is still on a 50-city tour of the U.S. (currently on the East Coast through early November). Thinking about gas prices? The 8.7 gallon tank is supposed to achieve more than 40 miles per gallon. Thinking about how much stuff you can pack into the back? The company says about 8 cubic feet.